Opposition of workers to the closure of Indian Railways’ printing presses forces authorities to defer the closure

Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee (KEC) correspondent

Due to continuous agitation by workers of Railway printing presses, It was decided at a joint meeting of Railway Board with General Secretaries of AIRF and NFIR on 02.04.2024 that the 5 Railway Printing presses at Howrah, Mumbai, Chennai, Secunderabad and New Delhi would continue to function and further decision will be taken after 31 December 2024. (See enclosed letters of AIRF and NFIR)

AIFAP along with many organisations representing workers such as AITUC, CITU, AILRSA, AISMA, etc. had also strongly opposed the closure of the Railway printing presses.

The decision to continue the Railway printing presses is a victory for the workers of the printing presses, their Unions and all Associations and Organisations that have been supporting them.

The workers of the Railway printing presses must further strengthen their struggle to prevent the closure of the printing presses after 31 December 2024.

The plans of the Railway authorities to outsource this important and critical work required for the smooth running of Indian Railways to private contractors is against the interests of safe running of the Indian Railways and must be prevented.